Ley had been on sabbatical from the network since Oct. 1, 2018. He initially said he planned to take a six-month break from his duties, but he did not return in the spring and ESPN said in a May 3 statement that the anchor had decided to extend his leave.

Ley joined ESPN on Sept. 9, 1979, its third day on air, and served as a "SportsCenter" anchor for years before establishing himself as the face of the network's in-depth journalism with the launch of "Outside the Lines" in 1990.

"The standard of excellence that has become a hallmark of ESPN began in the early days when we were a start-up with a bold vision," ESPN president Jimmy PItaro said in a statement. "Bob was there for all of it and, over the years, his unwavering commitment and unparalleled work ethic drove our journalistic ambitions. The best way we can thank Bob for what he's meant to ESPN and to sports fans is to continue to uphold the journalistic integrity and principles he's instilled in ESPN for nearly 40 years."